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In this episode of the Quantum Leap Rewatch, Cory and Tom brush up on their German and dog the nine leaving it hanging in the pocket as they discuss season 2 episodes 17 and 18, “Good Night, Dear Heart” and “Pool Hall Blues.”

Good Night, Dear Heart:

Sam leaps into coroner/mortician Melvin Spooner, currently in charge of the remains of one Hilly Danner, a young girl who apparently drowned herself in the town lake. While inspecting a locket the sheriff found, people who knew Hilly stop by; her boss Roger Trusdale with his son Greg, and a friend named Stephanie Haywood. After they leave, Sam inspects Hilly’s body and discovers what looks likes a bullet wound.

Despite not having found any trace of a bullet Sam continues his investigation believing that she did not commit suicide but was rather murdered. Reading Hilly’s diary reveals she had just broken up with someone, and that fact combined with a blood test result he found showing that she was pregnant at the time of death, pushes Sam to question the Trusdales who balk at his accusations, denying them.

Sam convinces the sheriff to look for the missing gun, but to no avail. Al tries to help by researching the people around Hilly and comes up with Aggie, the local beautician who prepares the faces of the deceased for funerals and who in the future will be tried and convicted of performing illegal abortions. Questioning Aggie reveals that Roger Trusdale had come to her looking for an abortion but that Hilly couldn’t go through with it and they left. With no other leads and no murder weapon, Sam has no choice but to prepare Hilly for her funeral, but while doing so he notices that high heeled shoes could match the hole he thought was made by a bullet.

Bringing together all the suspects he reveals that Stephanie was actually the murderer, and while she denies it at first, she confesses eventually to having grown jealous of Hilly’s relationship with Greg Trusdale. Because of terrible experiences in the displaced persons camps with men during the war, Hilla found herself being open romantically to only women and had fallen in love with Stephanie for a time, until she met Greg. Sam has yet to Leap however because he needs to visit Hilly’s grave and say goodbye, reading a poem by Mark Twain, after which he finally leaps.

Ziggy’s Data Retrieval:

Stephanie Heywood is played by Marcia Cross from “Desperate Housewives” and “Melrose Place.”

The character Stephanie Heywood features in issue nine of the Quantum Leap comic book, cover date February 1993. Sam leaps into her about a week before the Stonewall riots, the flashpoint of the modern gay rights movement.

When Sam Beckett reads Hilly’s diary, the voiceover, apparently her diary entry, talks about July 4th and how she had a fight with someone. However, the German text in the diary says nothing of the sort – instead, one entry talks about a trip to the zoo with someone named Anton and the other actually places her at the Chiemsee on July 2nd.

WK Stratton plays the Sheriff in this episode. He is from the pilot episode, “Genesis,” where he played Dr. Berger. Hear us discuss that episode here.

Roger Trusdale is played by Tom Paris. He also played Robert Duncan McNeill in Star Trek.

This episodes unsung hero is Marvyn Byrkett. He did some 80’s sitcoms including “Mr. Belvedere”, “Coach” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” He’s also voiced characters in animes.

Al’s Fashion of the Week:

Nothing says you were lucky enough to sink a ball using Alberta more, than a cave painting printed button down, shimmering blue tie and spotted black and white vest. This is the “Grip it like a cigar” collection

Pool Hall Blues:

Sam finds himself as billiard expert, Black magic Walters, playing the most important game of his life, the one that will save his granddaughter Violet’s jazz club. She opened the club by using the services of a loan shark named Eddie who is ready to cash in on that debt unless Magic can beat him in a billiard match.

Sam attempts to try and get a loan to pay Eddie back and Violet tries to use her feminine wiles to get out of the debt but in the end, there’s no choice but for Sam to try and beat Eddie. Luckily, Al has managed to use his handling to project a line on the pool table, showing same exactly where and how to hit the balls. Eddie’s henchman breaks Magic’s special cue but Sam manages to win enough games with Al’s help. Unfortunately, the power strain for Al’s handling beam eventually goes dead and Sam has to make the last shot on his own, which he does, freeing Violet from the debt and allowing Sam to leap.

Ziggy’s Data Retrieval:

Violet is played by Shari Headley, who was most notably in “Coming to America” a couple of years earlier to appearing in this episode. She’s also currently filming for the “Goosebumps” sequel.

The Brush is played by Ken Foree. He was in every 80’s TV show! He’s also in a lot of horror films, including Dawn of the Dead, Rob Zombie’s Halloween and Texas Chainsaw 3. We’ve seen him before as Whisper in The Flash episode “Beat the Clock.” Hear us discuss that episode here.

Robert Gossett plays the loan officer, he is the nephew of Louis Gossett Jr.

This episodes unsung hero is Robert Rags Woods. This is his only acting credit.

The song that Scott and Shari sing is an original written by Bakula for the episode.

Mind vs Body: The debate is over. Al clearly states that he sees Charlie in the waiting room and that Sam can play pool because his eyesight is 20/20, unlike Charlie’s.

Whats Next?

Next weeks episode discussions are “Leaping in Without a Net” and “Maybe Baby”

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